An Unlikely Pair

Will Love Bloom on Cold Winter Nights?

It was dark, and as we drove through the trees our headlights illuminated the couple on the drive. There he was, Banjo, our majestic, winter white Maremma guard dog cavorting with a young coyote, splendid in a silver winter coat. We watched agape, as they followed each other around like the best of friends.Banjo arrived last spring from a farm in Pennsylvania. His job, as we understood it, was to protect our flocks, specifically our lambs, from predators. So far, Banjo seemed to be on top of his position, barking endlessly at anything that moved, keeping prowlers at bay. Last night was different — no barking. And there he was, consorting with the enemy!

We’ve got one smart coyote in residence using a divide and conquer strategy. Will we see a large white pup in the den next year? Stay tuned.